Bridgestone Slashes 546 Jobs in Spain — Is This the End for Europe’s Tire Industry?
The European tire industry is facing its toughest challenge in decades, and Bridgestone’s latest move proves it. The Japanese tire giant has announced it will cut 546 jobs at its factories in northern Spain, citing brutal market conditions, rising inflation, and fierce competition from non-European brands. The layoffs, affecting plants in Cantabria and the Basque Country, deal a heavy blow to workers producing tires for tractors, buses, and trucks. With unions already threatening strikes, the situation highlights the deepening crisis in Europe’s manufacturing sector. Bridgestone isn’t the only one feeling the heat. The company pointed to skyrocketing production costs, economic instability, and stricter regulations as key reasons for downsizing. But the bigger issue? A flood of cheaper imports, particularly from Asia, has made it nearly impossible for European manufacturers to compete. Bridgestone Hispania, which employs around 2,800 workers, now joins a growing list of tire maker...
